Incinerator



May 12, 1942 J. H. G. MccoNEcHY 2,282,370

y INCINERATOR r Filed Feb. 6, 1940 Patente-d May 12, 1942 UNETE, STATES PATEN iFFICE INCINERATOR Vania Application February 6, 1940, Serial No. 317,469

(Cl. 11G-8) 5 Claims.

rThis invention relates to a novel incinerator and more particularly to one adapted for the drying and burning of watery materials, as sewage sludge.

The incinerator in accordance with this invention wil be simple and economical to construct and in operation will be highly efcient and, at the same time, economical more particularly from the standpoint of fuel consumption.

Generally speaking the incinerator according to this invention will comprise a drying chamber and a combustion chamber so arranged that material carrying a large amount of water, as sewage sludge, may be prepared for burning and burned in a continuous operation, with use of the hot gases of combustion in assistance to the drying operation and with disposal of water vapor generated in the drying operation in a manner such as to render it odorless.

Having now indicated in a general way the nature and purpose of this invention, I will proceed to a detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

The single iigure is a vertical sectional View of a preferred form of apparatus according to this invention.

En the drawing A indicates a drying chamber and B indicates a combustion chamber.

The drying chamber A may be made of metal and provided with a suitable linning I, for example of refractory material. lIhe chamber A may be of any suitable shape, but will preferably be cylindrical. A stack 2, provided with a damper 3, communicates with the top of the chamber A, while a hearth 4 is provided at the bottom of the chamber.

Spaced from the top of the chamber A is a horizontal perforated partition I4, below which are fuel injectors I5, which extend into the chamber at a downward angle and are connected with a source of fuel, as oil, gas, or the like, under pressure. The hearth 4 is provided with a radial opening 5 and is centrally apertured, the central aperture being lined with a metal sleeve t which extends below the underside of the hearth. Within the sleeve G is mounted a rotatable member 'I provided at its upper end with an annular flange S, to which is secured an arm 9, which extends radially of the hearth 4. sprocket It is secured on the lower end of the member l and is adapted to be driven by a motor II through a reduction gearing I2 and a chain t, whereby the arm Si is rotated over the hearth.

The upper end of the rotatable member l is closed by a centrally apertured plate I5 and a nozzle Il extends vertically through the member I and the central aperture in plate I6. The nozzle I'I, the lower portion of which is covered by a shield 20, is adapted for the injection of watery material, as sludge, into the chamber A from approximately hearth level. Watery material, as sludge, is supplied to nozzle Il, from a suitable supply, by pump I3 through conduit I9 under presure such that the material vis sprayed upwardly in the chamber A at high velocity.

Beneath the chamber A is a screw conveyor 2l adapted to be driven by an electric motor 22 through a chain 23 and connected to the lower end of radial slot 5 in the hearth 4 by a chute 24. The conveyor 2| is arranged to discharge into a nozzle 25 arranged to discharge into the combustion chamber B and, in line with which is an aspirator or nozzle 4I, from which air from a suitable source is discharged at high velocity. The combustion chamber B is formed from any suitable metal and is provided with a suitable refractory lining 2t. A flue 2l, provided with a damper 28, for gases from the chamber B, leads from the top of the chamber into and out of the chamber A above the perforated partition III, and connects with a stack 8, while a conduit 29, provided with a damper 3d connects chambers A and B and is in turn connected to the flue 2l by a conduit 3| provided with a damper 32. Variously, as desired, the conduit SI may be connected to the iiue 2l at a point beyond the point of exit of the conduit 2l from the chamber A. A fan 5I, driven by a motor 5B, may be placed in the stack t8 to facilitate the passage of hot gases from chamber B.

The chamber B is provided with a centrally apertured hearth 33 having a radial opening 312 leading to an ash pit It. The central aperture in the hearth 33 is lined with a metal sleeve 35 within which is mounted a rotatable member 36 provided on its upper end with an annular iiange 3l to which is secured an arm 38, which extends radially of the hearth. A sprocket 3B is secured on the lower end of the member 36 and is adapted to be driven from motor II and reduction gear I2 through the chain I3, whereby the arm 38 is rotated over the hearth. A fuel injector 40 extends into the chamber B at a point above the surface of the hearth 33.

In the operation of the embodiment of this invention as described above, for example, for the incineration of sewage sludge, the pump I8 is connected with a source of sewage sludge. Fuel, as, for example, oil, is injected into the chamber A through the injectors I5 and into chamber B through the injector 40 and the fuel is red. When the chambers A and B are substantially heated up the pump I8 is put into operation for the discharge of sewage sludge through nozzle I1 vertically upward into chamber A at high velocity. The motor I I is put into operation for the rotation of arm 9 in chamber A and arm 38 in chamber B through'the medium of reduction gearing I2 and chain I3. The motor 22 is put into operation for rotation of the screw conveyor 2| and air at high pressure is ejected from the aspirator or nozzle 4 I.

` Heated air from chamber B passes upward through the flue 21 and causes a down draft in chamber A by virtue of the connection of the lower` ends of chambers A and B by conduit 29. The fuel injection into chamber A will be regulated to maintain a temperature therein of about 212 F., which, since the watery component of the sewage sludge is finely divided by the high velocityY injection thereof vertically upward in chamber A, will serve to largely convert the watery component into vapor which will pass from chamber A into chamber B through conduit 29, if damper 32 in conduit 3I be closed and damper 30 in conduit 29 be open.` The water vapor may pass directly into flue 21 if damper 30 in conduit 29 be closed and damper 32 in conduit 3i be open, or partially in both directions if both dampers be open.

The solid material of the sludge will be dried in chamber A and will fall on to the hearth 4, from which it will be brushed by the rotating arm 9 into the radial opening 5, through which it will fall to the screw conveyor 2I. The screw conveyor 2i will carry the solid matter into the path of the high velocity stream of air issuing from the aspirator or nozzle 2|, which will act to blow the solid matter at relatively high velocity through the nozzle 25 vertically upward into chamber B` Fuel, as oil or gas, will be admitted to chamber B through injector 40 initially in quantity suicient to initiate combustion of the dried solid material, injected into the chamber through nozzle 25, in the presence of the air entering with the solid matter and of the water vapor passing from chamber A. Combustion of solid material will continue in chamber B without the support of further fuel when the chamber B has come up to a temperature of say 1200-2000 F.

In chamber B the solid material will be burned and the ash will fall upon hearth 33, from which it will be brushed into radial opening 34, connected with ash pit 35, by the rotating arm 38.

The injection of the sewage sludge into chamber A at high velocity will break up the watery component so that it will iiash to vapor at relatively low temperature and, at the same time, a disassociation of the solids will be obtained en-` abling them to be dried in suspension. The relatively dry solids are injected into the chamber B by means of the air under pressure, which, together with the water vapor, passing from chamber A to chamber B will supply the necessary oxygen to support combustion in chamber B, after combustion has been initiated by a supply of fuel from the injector 40.

The gases of combustion leaving the chamber B through flue 21 will, in that portion of the nue within the upper part of the chamber A, serve to preheat air entering the chamber A through stack 2, thus economizing on the amount of fuel required to maintain the desired temperature in chamber A.

The gases passing through ue 21 will be largely deodorized but, if desired, may be subjected to treatment for removal of odors as by washing with water or other suitable treatment.

It will be understood that it is not contemplated that this invention shall be limited to the details included in the above description, since it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modification may be made in the apparatus described without departure from the scope of the invention.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for the incineration of watery materials comprising, in combination, a vertical drying chamber, an air inlet opening into the upper part of the drying chamber, a combustion chamber, means for introducing watery materials into the drying chamber at high velocity at the bottom thereof in a substantially vertical direction, means for heating the drying chamber, means for introducing solid materialsk from the drying chamber into the combustion chamber from the bottom thereof, means for initiating combustion of solid material in the combustion chamber, a flue for conducting off hot gases of combustion from the combustion chamber and a conduit affording communication between the lower part of the drying chamber and said fiue whereby water vapor will be withdrawn from the drying chamber and a downdraft from the air vinlet produced therein.

2. Apparatus for the incineration of watery vmaterials comprising, in combination, a vertical drying chamber and a combustion chamber, means for introducing watery materials into the drying chamber at high velocity from the bottom thereof, a transverse perforated partition in the drying chamber spaced from the bottom thereof, an air inlet communicating with the drying chamber above said partition, means for heating the drying chamber positioned below said partition, means for introducing solid material from the drying chamber into the Combustion chamber at the bottom thereof in a substantially vertical direction, means for initiating combustion of solid material in the combustion chamber, a flue for conducting off hot gases of combustion from said combustion chamber, said flue extending into and out of the upper portion of the drying chamber above said transverse partition therein and means for withdrawing water vapor from the lower portion of said drying chamber whereby a dov/ndraft from the air inlet will be created therein.

3. Apparatus for the incineration of watery materials comprising, in combination, a vertical drying chamber, an air inlet opening into the upper part of the drying chamber, a combustion chamber, a flue leading from the upper portion of the combustion chamber, means for introducing watery materials into the drying chamber at the bottom thereof in a substantially vertical direction, means for heating the drying chamber, means for introducing dried solid materials from the drying chamber into the combustion chamber at the bottom thereof in a substantially vertical direction, means for initiating `combustion of solid material in the combustion chamber and a conduit connecting the lower end portions of said chambers and forming a passage between said chambers whereby a downdraft from the air iniet is produced in the drying chamber under the iniiuence of the updraft in the said flue.

4. Apparatus for the incineration of watery materials comprising, in combination, a vertical drying chamber, an air inlet opening into the upper part of the drying chamber, a combustion chamber, a flue leading from the upper portion of the combustion chamber, means for introducing watery materials into the drying chamber at the bottom thereof in a substantially vertical direction, means for heating the drying chamber, means including means providing a .iet of air under pressure for introducing dried solid materials from the drying chamber into the combustion chamber at the bottom thereof in a substantially Vertical direction, means for initiating combustion of solid material in the combustion chamber and means communicating with the lower end portion of said drying chamber and adapted to produce a down draft therein from the air inlet.

5. In apparatus for the incineration of watery materials, in combination, a vertical drying chamber and a combustion chamber, a flue leading from the upper portion of the combustion chamber, an air inlet opening into the upper portion of the drying chamber, means for introducing watery materials into the drying chamber through the bottom thereof in a substantially vertical direction, a burner extending into the upper portion of the drying chamber, a passage extending between said chambers and opening through the bottoms thereof, a conveyor in said passage adapted to receive dried material from the drying chamber and transfer it toward the combustion chamber, means for discharging a jet of air into said passage at a point adjacent to the bottom of the combustion chamber and in a direction such as to discharge solid material from said passage into said combustion chamber in a substantially vertical` direction, means for initiating combustion of solid material in the combustion chamber, a conduit connecting said chambers at points adjacent to their bottoms and affording communication between the drying chamber and said flue whereby a downdraft is created in the drying chamber from said air inlet in a direction opposite to that in which watery material is introduced into said chamber.

JOHN H. G. McCONECHY. 

